Goodrich – Owners of cars for sale parked in parking lots along M-15 may soon get more than just an offer to buy their ride.
Used vehicles sold along M-15 are becoming an eyesore, say village officials, as well as a potentially hazardous distraction along the busy road. So numerous are the hodgepodge of vehicles that adorn village streets that council members reviewing the current ordinance and are now eyeing much stricter enforcement measures.
‘We need some teeth in the remedy,? said Rod Pierson, village council member during the September meeting. We need to be more aggressive.?
The village is considering a 5-by-8 inch sticker to be affixed to the window of the vehicle notifying the owner that if the vehicle is not removed in 48 hours they will be ticketed or towed away or both. The sticker also utilizes strong glue, making removal very difficult.
‘According to the village code vehicles can be towed or ticketed, it’s a violation of the zoning district,? said Pierson.
The council will now consider which company will tow the vehicles from the Goodrich parking lots and where they will be towed.
Leo Milbrot, Davison Township code enforcer for the past 10 years says 75 percent of the time the sticker in the window motivates the removal of the car.
‘A flyer is put on the window that notifies the owner it’s unlawful to sell a vehicle on residential property,? said Milbrot. ‘We have three or four heavily traveled roads that people use for sales. But it’s illegal.?
Milbrot says sometimes in busy, highly visible areas residents or businesses offer people a deal to sell their cars on the property.
‘Business owners will be asked to go back to the township site plan review if they persist. It’s a violation of the zoning to sell the vehicles,? added Milbrot.
Village administrator Jakki Sidge says the plaza owner is spending money to have a new facade constructed, and doesn’t want the cars in his lot. Other business owners, who allegedly receive payment to allow vehicles to be sold from their property, will soon appear in court.
If the village doesn’t step in, business owners may find themselves brainstorming measures to stop sales of vehicles in their parking lots, including ‘No Parking? signs or replacing parking areas near M-15 with landscaping.
Village officials want to crack down not only on sellers of used cars, but on businesses violating sign ordinances, who have ignored repeated warnings.
The issue regarding cars for sale parked in a business lots will soon be addressed statewide.